BY R. ETHERIDGE, JUNR. 511 



but not with the aid of colour. The central zone is two and a 

 quarter inches wide and perfectly plain. The lateral zones are 

 each divided down the centre by a continuous groove that forms 

 the middle line of five chevrons on one side, and four on the other, 

 fairly equidistant from one another. Each chevron is incised 

 either with vertical grooves, or is cross-hatched, whilst the inter- 

 chevron spaces are herring-boned by very regular grooves, increas- 

 ing in acuteness of their angle at the two extremities of the 

 weapon. The chevrons appear at one time to have been coloured 

 red. The depressed apices of the shield each bear four zig-zag 

 incised vertical grooves. 



On the inner side the sculpture is very peculiar. The centre 

 above and below the hand-hole is occupied by two and three series 

 respectively of very irregular ovals bounded by from two to three 

 grooves, and filled in with other obliquely directed grooves. The 

 margins of the weapon, without the ovals, are occupied by oblique 

 grooves, somewhat undercut, and in places anastomosing, giving 

 rise to a reticulation in places, not unlike the net-work venation of 

 the plant Glossopieris. The handle, and lateral edges of the hand- 

 hole, are also obliquely grooved. At one end a small apical space 

 is marked off by an incised cross-bar. 



To the kindness of Mr. P. R. Pedley, I am indebted for the 

 opportunity of describing this handy and unique weapon. Mr. 

 Pedley informs me that this shield was formerly a cherished 

 possession of "Paroo Jack," an Aboriginal gentleman who achieved 

 distinction by getting five years for killing his gin. In the words 

 of Mr. Pedley's correspondent, who obtained the weapon : — " He 

 had a real fine gin, and the whites used to hang about his camp ; 

 so he killed her with a yam-stick." The shield was brought in by 

 the trackers when " Paroo Jack " was arrested. The Paroo River 

 rises in South Central Queensland and crossing the border between 

 the latter and N. S. Wales unites with the Darling River at 

 Killara. Through the authenticity of this shield, and Dr. Cox's 

 from Angledool, we are thus able to show the extension of the 

 Qoolmarry type a very considerable distance to the south of Peak 

 Downs, where Mr. Stockdale's example was obtained. 



